Beer Appreciation Week #6: The End

For the past five weeks, I have been taking a beer appreciation course at George Brown College with 8 other students taught by instructor Ron Keefe from the Granite Brewery. We have covered ales, lagers, Wheat and Wit beers, Belgian beers and went on a field trip to the Granite to learn about the brewing process. We were taught how to taste beer and what to look for when tasting. We also learned about the various styles and a little about their history.

Well, it is all said and done. The course has officially ended but it ended on a high note.

The last class covered German Hefeweizen Beers and Belgian Wit Beers or also known as wheat and white beers respectively. The German wheat beer will have aromas like banana, bubblegum and cloves, while the Belgium white beer is usually spiced with coriander and orange peel. Both beers are commonly hazy in appearance and high in carbonation. Ron also talked about glassware and how it can positively enhance the condition of beer. He provided a handout featuring pictures of different glassware and a description of what beers would be best situated with them.

We watched another Michael Jackson 'Beer Hunter' video where he toured Bamburg, Germany which has a population of 75,000 people and can boast about having 10 breweries. Toronto in comparison has over 2 million residents and features less then 10 breweries and that includes the GTA.

We tasted some great beers for this last class. Schneider Weisse, Hacker Pschorr Weissebier, Aventinus Weisendarkbier, Hoegaarden, Unibroue Blanche De Chambly, Mill Street Belgin Wit and Unibroue Maudite. All were excellent examples of the styles they represent.

Near the end of the class we had to complete a final exam based on material we have previously learned. It was a simple multiple choice test and it was over in no time. Ron then delivered a nice speech where he stated "My goal at the beginning of the course was to introduce everyone to many different styles and that beer is so much more than just a cold one. Experiment, its fun to try new things and keep an open mind when you travel, there is different beer everywhere." He also reminded everyone how well beer can be paired with food and with the upcoming holiday season, it would be a great time to start trying. Then a cheers to the class.

So, if anyone reading this is interested in learning more about beer and what it has to offer, you would do well signing up for the January class intake. Ron will be back teaching and you won't be disappointed.

Cheers!

A Toast for Those That Fought

Today is Remembrance Day all over the world and at 11am we are to take some moments to stop and reflect on the peace and freedom we have today due to the sacrifice of so many before us.

I would like to raise a glass today for all the men and women who haved served this great nation in battle and to those who continue to serve us today.

CHEERS!!!!

Winter: My Favourite Pub Season

I have been distracted for the last couple of weeks, resulting in less time spent in front of the computer and even less time out at pubs. Hopefully things will start to settle down soon and I’ll get back into the habit of posting three to five stories a week.

Things have been a little slow in the beer/pub scene lately, as everyone is gearing up for the busy holiday season. Which brought me the idea for this post – The Best Pub Season.

Actually, every season is a great season to enjoy the pub, but there is something special about drinking in one during the cold winter months that I have come to adore. It must be the warmth that they offer along with their seasonal beer selection and the quality food. Nothing beats going for a walk on a cold snowy day and ducking into your local for a drink by the fireplace. There is something so romantic about a pub with a fireplace as it provides us with the heat and comfort that we seek along with a nice amber glow.

Drinking on a patio is a great thing as you can enjoy the nice days of the summer sun beating down upon you. Yet, it doesn’t compare to being in the basement of a snug, cozy pub with a good book staying warm and dry. Long days can be spent with friends in the pub and before you know it the night has come and your back out in the cold. You wish you could stay for just one more; it always happens.

Drinking in the backyard next to the barbecue also has its benefits, but it becomes impossible with the blinding winds and snow flurries of the winter. When you move the party into the pub you don’t have to cook, do dishes or control the heat which makes it appealing. This is where C’est What’s couches, situated next to their fireplace, come in handy as larger groups can take advantage of the comfortable seating. Local pubs are usually within walking distance from your home, so on those blizzard like days when we want to leave the car at home, a walk to the local for some darts and social interaction is perfect.

The winter months are also a time when many of the local craft brewers start introducing their winter beers. Great Lakes Winter Ale, Nickel Brook Maple Porter and Black Oak Nutcracker Porter are three local beers that are set to hit the market and are best enjoyed in the comforts of a warm setting on a cold day. These specialty seasonal beers are wonderful in taste and aroma and go great with a hearty stew or Christmas pudding. You’ll find other great winter warmers in most Beligum style beers like Rochefort 10 and Chimay Blue as the high alcohol tickles your throat and heats up your lungs.

I love this time of season, pub season! So, as I finish this post, I am anxiously waiting for the first snowfall of the year so I can get out there and search for those pubs with a fireplace.

Caffe Volo: Toronto, ON

If you enjoy drinking fine beers in a small intimate setting, then Caffe Volo is the place for you. Located at 587 Yonge Street just north of the Wellesley subway station, Volo has been a popular Toronto destination since 1987. Owner Ralph Morana, a former landscape architect turned restaurant owner, is a friendly, energetic man, who is very passionate about his place and goes to great lengths ensuring his customers leave Volo feeling satisfied.

I just happened to have some extra time after a meeting on Monday afternoon so I walked over and took part in their $4 pint night special. $4 for a pint in Toronto is exceptional and its even better when you can choose from fantastic beers like Black Oak Nut Brown, Mill Street Tankhouse, Mill River Mild, Church Key West Coast IPA, St. Amboise Oatmeal Stout, King Dark Lager, Denison’s Weissbier, Durham Hop Head cask conditioned and more. I got there around 4:15 just as Volo was opening and by 5pm the place was almost full, which is a testament to the success Volo has received from noble locals and regulars alike. Nicholas Pashley, who I have mentioned before in past posts, was there enjoying the ambiance.

Beer aficionados have known about Volo for years as Morana has been responsible for serving imported beers that are not available for sale anywhere else in Ontario. "Importing your own beers is a very daunting task as you have to go through a lot of rules and regulations, but it has been great for me and Volo," states Morana. Because of the high costs of importing and the long delays it sometimes takes, Morana has started to scale back in recent months and has been looking at other angles for his establishment. He has since applied for his brew pub licence and plans are in the works to install some small brewing equipment in his basement and possibly have a local homebrewing club come in to produce some inspiring beers. So we'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I'll get back to telling you about the place. As you walk into Volo, you are greeted by a large red Chimay tin sign and a beer cooler displaying many different kinds of beer from all over the world. It gives you an idea of what the place is going to be like if you haven't been there before. There is a seating area to the left for roughly 20 people and features all wooden furniture including two old church benches. Hardwood floor mixes with grey tiling for most of the lower level of the caffe and wooden floors on the upper level. The walls are covered with many pictures of movie scenes, landscapes and beer related signage along with many framed newspaper clippings on Volo and many awards and plaques. Their is a large window that opens up to the nice days of summer right on Yonge street and offers passerby's a sneak peak inside.

The upper level has two island sit down bars with bar back stooling where you can sit and read one of the many beer books or beer magazines Morana has donated to the place. There are a couple of shelving units containing various imported bottles from around the world which make for interesting conversation with friends as you try picking out what you've tried before and what you wish to try. Volo has a lot of wood in the place with creates a cozy, intimate setting, that looks great with the lovely angel figurines and attractive burgundy leather couch. The bathrooms are located down a flight of stairs that reminded me of walking into the crevices of a cave. Lots of stone and an exposed rock floor meet you at the bottom of the old rickety stairs.

The bar is located on the second level and although small and cramped, it still offers that delicious beverage that we love to consume. The most attractive piece of the bar is the large assortment of different glassware stationed above in metal racks. Tulips, goblets, pilsners, weizens, sniffers and pint glasses of all different shapes and sizes are available to match each individual beer, adding character to your beer and it looks very professional. Something you'd find in Belgium or Germany. There are no bar stools at the bar, so people stand in front of the taps while socializing with Morana's son Thomas who is a regular fixture behind the bar.

The Beer: Well, it would be hard to list everything that Volo carries as it changes regularly so I'll just direct your to their website. There are hundreds of bottled beer from United States, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Scotland and more. You will be able to find everything from light lagers to robust stouts that are just as good as the day they left the brewery. The 12 draught lines change regularly so you have pay attention to the chalk board on the lower level to see what's available. Volo is also home to the annual Cask Days event the Morana created three years ago and is widely considered to be 'the premiere' beer drinking event in the Province. It attracts loyal cask lovers from all over which is held on Volo's side patio making for tight quarters. Morana is also an avid supporter of Ontario Craft Beer and you can usually find some on tap along with literature that the Ontario Craft Brewers Association has provided for customers. Not only is Morana a supporter of the OCB, he also support locally produced food and regularly holds cheese events at Volo to offer customers a little bit of everything.

Props go out to Lawrence who was behind the bar and was a very friendly and gracious barkeep. He engages every customer in conversation and was quick and steady as the caffe got busy. Volo will remain a top notch beer destination if they continue with their trend of offering customers a unique beer line up and locally produced food. It is a beautiful caffe with great music and a nice book selection and one should not pass up the chance of attending. I highly recommend visiting should you be in the area.
587 Yonge Street
www.barvolo.com
416.928.0008

Beer Appreciation Week#5

Five classes down, one to go before the end of the course. Week five looked promising on paper as it was Trappist/Belgium week and it lived up to that promise.
There is something about Belgian beers that make your mouth water before even having a taste, well at least it happens to me. It's probably because they are rated so highly throughout the world and are crafted with the up most quality standards.

Ron Keefe, owner and brew master of the Granite Brewery, also the instructor, started the class out with a small history lesson on Belgium and their brewing heritage. For a population of 10,318,000, the Belgians have over 150 breweries brewing every style imaginable and can boast about their more than 60,000 pubs, cafes, and taverns. I am already thinking about moving there, but my liver is begging me not to.

We watched two Beer Hunter videos which I have come to adore. I want to get my hands on some episodes. Jackson (beer hunter) visited some monasteries and spoke with Trappist monks brewing their excellent ales. During the video, Keefe poured some delicious Chimay Red for us to taste and it matched the video nicely. There is a beer for every occasion and when your watching Jackson talk to monks brewing Chimay, it just seems fitting to have one as well.

We talked about how beer is a social lubricant in Belgium, part of their everyday life. They use beer in cooking, they pair certain meals with a certain beer and they worship the gods of brewing. Here in Canada, some would judge us quickly for using a bottle of beer for soup and then drinking a different beer while eating that soup. In Belgium it is almost customary to have different beer with each different plate. They taught the world that the two go together so much better than food and wine and Jackson was their main spokesperson.

It was a interesting class learning about the history of this great brewing nation. I can only hope that I get there to visit one day. We tried some Duvel, Mort Subite Framboise Lambic, Leffe Brune, Rochefort 10, Chimay White, Affligem Blond, and Unibroue La Fin Du Monde. All exceptional beers, but my favourite was Rochefort 10. A beautiful beer with hints of prune, raisin and smell of alcohol. A great winter warmer. So who's ever reading this, if you don't know what to get me for Christmas; one plane ticket to Belgium.

Great Lakes Winter Ale

It's that time of year again when the LCBO starts rolling out their winter beer selection. Most beers are set to be released starting December, but most of the time certain ones end up on the shift at different times, in effect, staggering the release of each beer.

One of those beers that will be hitting the shelf any day now is Great Lakes Winter Ale, slated to be released on November 15th. It will be available at the LCBO in a gift set that includes 1 bomber bottle and 2 Great Lakes glasses, retailing for $14.95. At the same time, the beer should start pouring from the draught machines at places like C'est What, Volo and others.

This will be the second year that Great Lakes has created this brew for distribution and for the first time ever, single bottles will be released in Nova Scotia in late November at select NSLC outlets. "We are very exciting about the Winter Ale being available in NS and who knows, if it sells well, there may be a future in shipping them more," states sales & promotions manager John Bowden. "It would be nice to get our Devil's Pale Ale and our Pumpkin Ale there as well, we're all pretty excited."

I had the chance to visit the brewery recently and got to taste a fresh batch of the Winter Ale straight from the fermentation tanks. It is an excellent winter warmer and would make a nice fixture on your Christmas Day dinner table next to the turkey. You will find hints of cinnamon, dried orange peel, honey and fresh ginger on the palate and at 6.2% alcohol, it can hold its own. Bowden informs me that they actually use whole cinnamon sticks and add the other ingredients to a bucket and dip it in the fermentation vessel.

The brewery's retail store will have the bottles available for sale next week for $6.95. So visit the brewery, take a tour and leave with a couple bottles of some of Ontario's finest.

Cheers

Beer Appreciation Week #4

Instead of meeting on Sunday at George Brown College, the class headed to the Granite Brewery at 245 Eglinton Avenue East to take a tour of the brewery and to sample all of the beers.

There was a section of tables reserved for our group ahead of time and we all gathered in the back by the actual brewing area. The fireplace was on and the music was great which created such a great setting for a night of tasting.

Ron Keefe, owner of the Granite, who also happens to be the instructor of the course, started us off with a taste of his India Pale Ale. This is a great beer as it is cask conditioned and served via hand pulled. Brewed using Golden Kent hops and dry hopped with fuggles, the aroma is very nice. Some of the people in the class had never been to the Granite before and were quite impressed with the IPA.

Ron talked about how he came to owning a brewery/brew pub and told us about some of the interesting bylaws in this city. He explained how the brewery has progressed throughout the years by adding new beers and expanding the back patio for summer months. After finishing the IPA, Keefe took us into the brewing area to explain just how beer is produced. He showed us the ingredients, told us their purpose and showed step by step details from start to finish. I always learn better through visual stimulants and this was the best way for the class to gain a better appreciation for beer.

We headed back out to our tables and sampled the Ringwood Ale and the Ringberry Ale side by side. I am a fan of Keefe Ringberry even though I am not a huge fan of fruiter beers. We picked out Swedish berries in the nose of the beer. Following those beers we tasted the Best Bitter and Best Bitter Special side by side to see if we could tell them apart. Well, you'd have to have no sense of smell not to tell them apart. The BBS is dry hopped in the cask and served with a strong floral aroma. It is a beautiful beer. The last tastings of the night belonged to Peculiar and Keefe's Irish Stout. Both excellent beers and two of the founding beers Keefe brewed in his early days.

Keefe, the ever gracious host, brought out food and provided us with a growler of Peculiar and Bill Perrie's book Craft Breweries of Ontario. It was a fun night and some of us stayed a little later chatting with Ron about all things beer. He is a passionate man when you get him on the subject and he was never hesitant to answer any questions. Best class to date.

Until next week, drink up!!

For more information on the Granite see my previous post or visit their website at www.granitebrewery.ca.

Someone's Reading My Blog

Greg Clow, a great beer writer in Toronto, has recently mentioned my blog on his site with some very nice and encouraging words. Clow also assumes responsiblity of the news content that gets added to my favourite beer website www.bartowel.com. Check out his site Beer, Beats and Bites to read some of his fantastic work and leave him some comments.

Thanks Greg!!!

Some time ago, I was lamenting about the fact that the number of Canadian beer bloggers seemed to be disproportionately low in comparison to our American counterparts. There hasn’t been a huge change since then, but I’m happy to report that at least one newcomer has joined our ranks, with more enthusiasm than the rest of us combined.

Great Canadian Pubs & Beer was launched by a young fella named Troy Burtch back on August 13th, and in less than 2 months, he’s already made 47 posts on, well, pubs and beers in Canada. It took me something like 7 months to reach that same point. Yikes!

I really like what he’s doing with his blog. While it’s fine and good to rate and review beers, and debate the merits of a particular style, and delve into some of the business behind it, and so on and so forth, beer lovers need to remember that beer is a social drink, and where you drink can be just as important as what you drink. A whole bunch of us wrote about this for an instalment of The Session a few months back, but it’s great to see someone writing about beer and pub culture on a regular basis - especially from a Canadian perspective. It’s something that Pint & A Smoke was set to focus on, but that blog is seemingly abandoned now, so I’m glad someone else has taken up the gauntlet. Or the pint glass, rather.

Welcome, Troy. Keep it up.

TAPS Beer Magazine

Over the last couple of months, I have been working with a number of people trying in vain to get the TAPS beer magazine back up and running. It has been a challenging task, but fortunately there will be issues rolling off the press soon.

TAPS was a quarterly magazine that featured articles on beer, spirits, sports, and also included TAPS girls. It had columns from around the country and even some that were from aboard such as Belgium and Paris. I remember picking up my first copy of the magazine in Halifax and thought that some of the content was really good but that the pictures and features that had nothing to do with beer brought the magazine down. The TAPS girls were a distraction and the columns on roller derbies and golfing were out of place.

Well, a year later and with new owners, TAPS Beer Magazine is back. Rob Engman, a self described "good beer" fan, has recently taken over ownership and is taking the magazine in a whole new direction. Gone are the TAPS girls that took up too many pages; gone are the whiskey and vodka stories and gone are the car and sport stories.

This magazine will focus strictly on BEER!! There will be stories on Ontario Breweries, new beers, pub profiles, people in the industry, book/blog reviews, industry insiders, pub jokes, and a bartowel.com page. We have and will be visiting beer events like Cask Days, Independent Boast and Toast and Press Releases and reporting on them. We will be showing up at breweries and taking you, the reader, on a tour without leaving your house. We will talk about what is happening all around the province in regards to new beer releases, new pub openings and really anything we can think of. There are some great writers that will be working on content for the magazine that have been in the beer industry in some capacity for years. Each one is passionate about growing the beer segment in Canada and love the challenge of being a beer writer.

The re-birth of the magazine is slated for the middle of December and it will feature the highlights from the judging at the Canadian Brewing Awards as well as highlights from the Gala itself. Other stories will cover some events already mentioned and more. We are working hard to ensure that this can and will be the best beer only magazine in Ontario and possibly one day in Canada.

If you have any ideas, suggestions, comments or would like to advertise with the magazine, please contact me at troyburtch@gmail.com for more information. Also, check out the website www.tapsmedia.ca and sign up for the podcasts. Currently there are 22,000 subscribers and we will be releasing more in the future.

Cheers!!

Whelan's Gate Irish Pub: Toronto:ON

Comfortable, intimate, warm, inviting and snug, are just some of the words one could use to describe the atmosphere of the independently owned Whelan's Gate Irish Pub.

Located at 1663 Bloor Street West, this popular pub had been serving locals for over 15 years in a nice old building with plenty of character. There are two levels at Whelan’s and a patio located at the front building.

The main level features a small bar at the back of the room along with five tables. Beer posters, signs, cans and bottles are scattered throughout this level rounded out with a mix of fall/autumn decorations. Old weathered hardwood floors and wooden beams look great with the white stucco ceiling and original brick that has been left exposed. There are a couple of televisions showing hockey and other sporting highlights, but are drowned out by Pearl Jam blasting from the speakers. Tolerable on a Friday night but hopefully not on a weekday afternoon.

Upstairs was just as nice. More tables can be found as well as some booths. There is a also a back room used for hosting a large group. Again, hardwood floors, wooden beams and old wooden furniture made for a nice setting with the dimmed lighting. On the night I visited, there was live music. The bar staff informs us that musicians rotate between gigs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The singer was great and entertaining which added to my night.

The beer selection consisted of some imported beers and a couple of micro-brewed beers. Amsterdam 2 Fisted Stout, Oktoberfest and Blonde, St. Ambroise Pale Ale, Kronenburg 1664, Stella, Strongbow, Labatt 50, Keith's, Keith's Red, Creemore Springs, Smithwicks, Harp, Kilkenny and Guinness, which happens to be a big seller. The bar is nice and dated and an old beer fridge can be found behind it which is creative decorating. You don't seem to see that everyday in a pub.

I spoke with a couple of regulars who have been coming to Whelan's for years due to the hospitality and kindness they receive from the staff. They also understand they are supporting an independent owner and it makes them feel good doing so.

It was a great visit with some good friends who have made it their local. With the exception of the loud Pearl Jam music downstairs, Whelan's Gate is a terrific pub that all classes of society will enjoy.

1663 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
416.531.1311

Meeting Russ Rowlands: Industry SOS

I wasn't able to make it out to the first Independent Boast and Toast organized by Russ Rowlands at Rowers Pub two weekends ago, so we met up at Toronto's oldest pub The Wheatsheaf for a pint and to talk about the future of his company: Industry SOS.

First we talked a little about the event and Russ was pleased with how everything went. He hoped that the event would have attracted more people but he understands he made some rookie mistakes that won't happen again. But the people who were there had a great time from what I heard and drank a lot of quality craft beer. He mentioned that the Ontario brewers who participated served up some great beer and had a good time taking to the customers.

I asked Russ why he started his business and how he came about the idea. He has worked in the hospitality industry since he was 14 years old doing all sorts of jobs ranging from cooking to managing, in mostly independent restaurants/pubs. It wasn't until he became a general manager of an unnamed franchise restaurant that he saw a opportunity to help out the little guy. You see, Russ witnessed how franchise places treat employees like a number, focusing on the bottom line instead of creating a inviting atmosphere to work. The franchise's goal, as is the case for most large restaurant companies, is to get customers in and out as quick as possible therefore making more money. He also witnessed how the big box restaurants were starting to move into the city, forcing out smaller independent owners who couldn't battle a price war.

Russ didn't like what he saw so he started Industry SOS as a way to help independent owners out with everything from serving to payroll analysis, surveying the customers and actually managing the place. He offers advice, guidance and ideas on how to increase customer base, or most importantly; how to retain customers. One big goal is to ensure that the servers, dishwashers, cooks and everyone behind the scenes are kept happy, because a miserable server can make or break a pub.

Back to the event. Russ plans on hosting another one in late January or early February. This time around he plans on having more of a marketing budget and with the help of beer bloggers and word of mouth, he estimates it will be more successful than the first.

Congratulations Russ on your business and I wish you all the best. I am a huge supporter of independent pub owners and quality craft beer and mixing the two together to help build awareness is just great.

Volo Cask Days 2007: Toronto, ON

My first reaction after leaving Volo's Cask Days: WOW!!

I had never been to Volo before; since I was living away in Halifax and just recently moved here to Toronto I never had the chance. But I managed to get a ticket through TAPS beer magazine to attend Volo's third annual Cask Days.

Volo is known for their terrific beer selection and their dedication to local products like Ontario Craft Brewers. It is a small location at 587 Yonge Street in Toronto that offers a nice relaxing and intimate setting. Great music, great food and outstanding staff, round out all the qualities that make Volo a fabulous place.

This event caters to the real ale drinkers as cask ale is typically referred to as 'real ale'. It is beer that has been taken from the fermentation tanks early and let to ferment in the cask. It is typically unfiltered, unpasteurised, and possesses no additional gasses. This produces a fresher beer that offers better aroma's than say, a draught beer. (Click here for more info)

As I walked down Yonge Street and approached Volo, I could see rows and rows of the casks perched on the patio and I increased my walking tempo. I got inside for the first session of the day that included a delicious breakfast and a preview of all the beer available. So far so good.

Once 11am hit, Ralph Morana (owner) introduced himself to the crowd and promptly went outside and tapped the first Cask, officially starting the drinking. I started off with a Keefe's Oak Chipped Irish Stout made by Ron Keefe at the Granite. According to Ron, he added dry oak chips and a small amount of hops to the cask of his regular Irish stout to give it some added flavour. Most breweries in attendance were members of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association and represented themselves well. Many of the breweries created some terrific one-offs like Hockley Valley's Traditional Dark with Vanilla Beans, or Magnotta's Weizen flavoured American IPA called Fog on the Tyne and Black Oak's Bourbon Barreled 2005 Nutcracker Porter.

In total there were over 20 breweries represented with 30 different casks in different styles. There were the hop heavy beers, stouts and porters and even a home brewing club's beers (which were terrific).

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I plan to attend both days next year. It was a great event to get out and talk to the brewers, as most were in attendance. As always, it was fun to talk to other people that share the passion for quality beer. Volo is a terrific place and a top destination for beer drinkers. As a matter of fact, I am heading there again tonight for some more delicious pints.

See you there.

Beer Appreciation Week#3

After a very enjoyable Saturday at Volo for their Cask Day event, I managed to get up and head off to my beer appreciation course at George Brown College on Sunday to listen to Ron Keefe (instructor) tell us about Lagers.

As soon as everyone arrived, Ron poured us all a sample of a warm lager that tasted like golden lake water with corn in it. The idea was to taste what one of the most popular beers tastes like when warm and without a lime wedge; yep, it was Corona. What an offensive taste, well, really there was no taste. I haven't drank a full bottle of this Mexican beer in ages and I am reminded why. Anyways, it was a good example of how bland some lagers can be.

Ron talked in length about how lagers came to be. He cited glassware as one reason why breweries started introducing lighter coloured beers. Because you could see thru the new glassware, you could see what you were drinking and people were being turned off on the colour of the porters, stouts, and dark English Ales. Lagers were born and now 90% of all beer consumed fall under the lager category.

We were fortunate again as we watched another Micheal Jackson Beer Hunter video on the fight between the Czech Republic Budvar beer and the American Budweiser. Both claim to be the original Budweiser and the battle is still before the courts. Jackson toured the historic Pilsner Urquell brewery that all lager beer pays credence to today. Even though the video's are a bit dated, they are still a great tool for educating beginners on some of the finer beer details.

Ron also talked about the effect that water can have on the body of beer. We took a light lager (Budweiser) and added a bit of salt which created a fuller body. He talked about how breweries can alter water for the different styles they brew.

We sampled some good lagers of different styles. We tasted and judged Budweiser, Czechvar (Budvar), Kostritzer Schwarzbier, St. Andre Vienna, Brooklyn, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Steam Whistle, Holsten Maibock and Pilsner Urquell. All beer is available at the LCBO.

My eyes were opened to the Rauchbier. Nice smoky smell of crisp bacon or an outdoor campfire. This is the first smoke beer that I really enjoyed. Big winner of the day was Brooklyn Lager. I love the hops.

The New Discovery Pack from the OCB

For the first time in the short history of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association, they have unveiled their first ever “Discovery Pack” that consists of six different beers brewed by six different breweries. "The OCB Discovery Pack came to fruition in response to the OCB's customers - you asked, we responded." said Mary MacIssac, Director of Marketing for the OCB.

The announcement was held at the gorgeous Summerhill LCBO location in Toronto before a mixed crowd of media personnel and people from the beer industry. While the main focus was on the introduction of the new pack, the OCB also held a beer and food pairing session that was conducted by acclaimed Chef Ezra Title from Chez Vous; who prepared delicious dishes made with local products and local Ontario beer. Also on hand was Divira Ovadia, who had recently won a contest on the Debbie Travis television program From the Ground Up. Ovadia explained tips and tricks on how to spruce up your table for the festive season along with ideas on how to highlight different beers using unique glassware.

The OCB claims that the Discovery Pack will be the first of a series that the OCB will role out throughout the next year. It is a way to get people to try these exciting beers without purchasing different six packs each time they visit an LCBO. Inside the six packs is a product information sheet outlining some of the beers being brewed here in Ontario for the winter months. The outside of the Discovery Pack also includes tasting notes for the six individual bottles inside. It will be available for customers starting November 4th at 150 LCBO locations across Ontario for $11.95.

The OCB Discovery Pack consists of four lagers and two ales from some of Ontario most distinguished craft brewers. The list includes:

1. Mill Street Organic Lager (Toronto, ON)
2. Great Lakes Red Leaf Smooth Red Lager (Toronto, ON)
3. Wellington Special Pale Ale (Guelph, ON)
4. J.R. Brickman Pilsner (Waterloo, ON)
5. Walkerville Amber Lager (Windsor, ON)
6. Lakes of Muskoka Cream Ale (Bracebridge, ON)


The OCB is made up of 29 small craft and regional breweries throughout the Province that engage in making fresh quality beer. They brew exciting and inspired beer that is made to be enjoyed by someone unlike large breweries who brew beer that means not to offend anyone. Learn more about the Discovery Pack, recipes and glassware tips by visiting their website at www.ontariocraftbrewers.com

The Fitzgerald Public House: Toronto, ON

On one of my many walks down Queen Street East, I happened to stumble upon the Fitzgerald Public House located at 2298 Queen Street East at the end of the streetcar line. I have probably walked by this place half a dozen times already as it’s hard to miss. You can tell by the picture.

The Fitzgerald Public House has occupied the building since 1978 and is now owned by a husband and wife combination. I entered the pub around 1pm and I found myself to be the only patron inside. I took a seat at the very old, cherry stained bar, located on the main level of the two storey building and ordered a beer. Katie, my server, brought me a pint of Mill Street Organic Lager to quench my thirst from all the walking. I glanced down the bar to see what else is available and to no surprise I find a bunch of national brand lagers. Rickard’s White, Canadian, Stella, Keith’s, Keith’s Red, Guinness, Strongbow, Carlsberg and Mill Street round out the draught list.

After glancing around the pub and speaking to Katie, I come to realize that this is a very comfortable place to consume a beer. The music is nice and relaxing as Frank Sinatra and other classical numbers ring down from the speakers. The 10 bar stools surrounding the ‘L’ shaped bar are covered in what I assume to be velvet, which is nice to sit on. Everything in this pub appears old, without the help of paint. I noticed an old church pew acting as bench seating in a corner off the left of the bar that added tons of charm. The lighting has been dimmed offering a nice amber glow throughout the pub. The hardwood floors are old and weathered and combined with the wooden pillars and the old Toronto Maple Leafs pictures on the walls, reminded me of an old saloon from a western movie.

Up a flight of creaky old stairs you’ll find the Fitzgerald’s Lounge. There are many couches and love seats that are situated near the windows looking out over Queen Street. Games like Clue, Snakes and Ladders and Scrabble are made available for customers to play, and Katie mentions it’s a good place to have a first date. The bar is curvy with a beautiful painted mural over head. There are some imported beers available upstairs in the Lounge as it tends to cater to a different crowd then downstairs.

The Fitzgerald also has a large patio at the rear of their main level that gets lots of use in the summer months.

Katie and I talk about the status of pubs along this stretch of Queen Street and she told me that Fitzgerald’s caters mainly to regulars. Many people that live or work in the area usually stop by for a pint after work, play a game of darts or come to watch the Leafs in action with some buddies. In the summer months though, Katie says the pubs sees many visitors as people come from all around to visit Toronto’s beaches. It is a nice mix of people and many return every summer for some drinks and food.

There are only two things that appeared out of place in a pub with so much character; the Big Buck Hunter arcade game near the entrance to the outdoor patio and the pull down screen and projector that play sports later in the nights.

The Fitzgerald Public House is a nice intimate pub that I will make sure to visit again soon. The upstairs lounge would be a nice destination after a busy week of working to go and relax with a loved one over some drinks.

2298 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
416.698.8588